Cairo - Post Report Question and Answers
What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
You can get anything here between the local stores and the commissary. - Mar 2023
Everything is available here, so the only things you'd want to stockpile are specialty liquids you can't order through Amazon or pantry items from Trader Joes, since they don't ship. - Aug 2022
Just the Trader Joe's creature comforts we miss. Pretty much everything else we can get here. - Aug 2022
Everything - from La Croix to IPAs to taco spices to Doritos to Bounty Paper Towels to Arm & Hammer Toothpaste - can be found here, it may just take a while to locate it outside the commissary. We shipped cleaning supplies, seasonings, grains, and alcohol because we did not know this. We don't regret it because things are certainly cheaper at Costco but it was not necessary. We do recommend shipping your favorite Trader Joes items and favorite alcohol (the commissary tends to cater to the younger adult set with the wine, beer, and booze selection and the availability of alcohol on the local economy is reflective of a country that does not drink). Additionally, if you are brand loyal to certain toiletries or vitamins/medications, bring those. - Mar 2022
Nothing, I found everything I needed. - Dec 2021
None, most available from commissary or locally if you search. Or order stuff online, especially any ethnic foods you love. - Feb 2021
Found pretty much what I needed there, and haven't been wanting for too much. - Jan 2020
Clothes and shoes for my kid. Protein powder (I'm picky). Dye-free OTC medicines for my kid (she has dye sensitivities). Good quality hair products. - Jun 2018
Specialty cooking items--coconut aminos, vital wheat gluten. I also find it cheaper to ship in diapers and wipes. Otherwise I can find everything between the commissary and the local market. - Jan 2018
None, you can get everything at the commissary and/or on the local economy. - Sep 2017
I had access to American-quality products and didn't really need to ship anything. - May 2017
Redbush tea. Decent wine. You just can't get it here. There isn't much else you can't get though. - May 2017
Would not have brought as many dry goods, since we could get them there for less than we paid in DC. - Jan 2016
Clothing, especially if a niqab is not your thing. There are western- style malls with Gap, Zara, H and M, Marks and Spencer...but the fashions are dated, modest and not in keeping with the climate. Shoes also. - Jan 2016
Glad we have our bikes. I can't think of anything we are missing other than our winter clothes. We now get a second R&R, and we are psyched to be going to Europe for Christmas! Wish I had packed a few of my winter clothes. I'll have a friend send them, though. No biggie. - Oct 2014
Gift wrap/tissue paper for gifts, ink for our printer - it has been difficult finding those items and in the case of ink impossible to order over the Internet to have shipped here. - Aug 2014
Everything is available here. - Aug 2014
Camping gear, bikes. - May 2014
Camping gear, bikes, air purifier, uninterruptable power supply. - Apr 2014
An air purifier. And anything where quality is important -- like sheets, towels, etc. Natural specialist foods, - Jul 2013
high-top shoes or short boots. You will turn an ankle on the street if you don't have some support. - Jul 2013
Some knives to wear/carrry on the street. - Jun 2013
Nothing. With the commissary and APO, we can get almost everything we can't find on the local market. - Jun 2013
No, most things are readily available here, or you can order by mail. - May 2013
We order just about everything, including kids' clothes, from the APO because local quality is bad. - May 2013
Nothing really...everything is available here. But we tend to eat naturally: no canned or frozen foods, so we have had no problems. - May 2013
Not much really - about the only thing we have shipped that we can't get here are quality shoes, some clothing (both shoes and clothing sold here is either poor quality or expensive imports), car parts, animal food (the pet food that is available here is generally of poor quality). - Feb 2013
Air purifiers and lots of filters! - Mar 2013
More things to keep the kids busy: board games, more video games, DVDs, pizza-making supplies, ice-cream maker. - Mar 2013
Bed linens. I thought, with Egyptian cotton being so famous, that we could buy them here. But it turns out that they are more expensive and of lower quality here than they are in the US. - Feb 2013
Patience and high blood pressure medication for dealing with Egyptians who try and take your money every moment of your life in Egypt. - Jan 2013
An ironing board! They take the one from the Welcome Kit. Also: mattress cushions - the beds are NOT comfy. Most things, however, you can get here or get delivered here. Amazon and Target are lifesavers (especially with free shipping offers!). - Nov 2012
Air purifiers! - Sep 2011
a small SUV - Aug 2011
Everything is available here - Aug 2011
My own mattress, kid/baby stuff like car seats, strollers, high chairs, big toys like kitchens or slides (all more expensive here). - Jul 2011
Diapers. - Jun 2010
Specific toiletries and skin care items, but other than that, you can find everything here. - Dec 2009
Air purifyers and humidifiers. - May 2008
